Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 8, 1942.- R. w. HOMMEL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1941 .I llllll ll l l 1 4 J a Q [.lfillllllllllll-IIIIIIIIIL I M 1 l 1 1 1 1 III I 1 111 1/11 7/ I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 1 1 1 1n111 1 1 1 1 1 11 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 l 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 111 11 "211 111 1Z411 1 121 1 171 2 211 1112 "2 1 11 121 21 1 12 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1/1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1111 111 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 11 1 111 1 1 11 1 11 11 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 111 11111 1 111 1 1111 1 1 11 1 1 1 111 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 11 11 1 11 11/ 1 /1 11 1 1111111111111 1 11 1 11 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 10 1 1 H1 00 H01 1 1 111 11 1 1 1 11 1 1 111 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 -1 r 1 I V V V V I I Patented Dec. 8, 1942 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 1 Robert W. Hommel, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

I corporation of Delaware Application March 28, 1941, Serial No. 385,733

2 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more. particularly to apparatus which is adapted to be placed in a fireplace of a home for cooling the air during hot weather.

One object of this invention is to design an air cooling unit which may be placed directly within the fireplace opening during the summer months.

Another objectof this invention is to utilize the fireplace flue as a means for disposing of the condenser cooling air. 7

Another object of this invention is to utilize the ash dump passage of a fireplace as a means for supplying condenser cooling air to an air conditioning unit located within the fireplace opening. r 1 i Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing my unit installed in a conventional fireplace opening;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the air conditioning unit; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the air conditioning apparatus.

One of the big problems in conditioning air for a private home is that of disposing of the heat removed from the air. The use of water for cooling the condenser is impractical not only because of the cost of the water but also because of the necessity for providing special water pipes leading to the condensing unit. The use of air for cooling the condenser also presents numerous problems which have been solved by my invention.

By providing an air conditioning unit which may be mounted directly within an existing fireplace opening no extra fioor space is required and a very neat arrangement results. A unit of this type does not require any alteration of the building or the addition of any extra air circulating ducts.

Referring now to Fig. 1, in which I have shown a typical installation, reference numeral I ll designates the outer casing of an air conditioning unit which is adapted to be placed within the fireplace opening l2, provided in the wall l3. The casing 10 is provided with rollers l4 whereby the air conditioning unit may be rolled in and out of place. A partition l6 separates the casing I0 into an evaporator chamber l8 and a condenser chamber 20. An evaporator 22 is supported within the chamber l8 andacondenser 24 is supported within thechamber 20. A motorcompressor unit 26 which may be of any conventional construction, is adapted to withdraw refrigerant vapor from the evaporator 22 and to discharge the compressed refrigerant vapor into the condenser 24. The condensed refrigerant is collected in'- the receiver 28 from which liquid "refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 22. The

flow of refrigerant to the evaporator 22 is controlled by means of a fixed restrictor 39, preferably of the capillary tube type.

Room air to be conditioned enters the evaporator compartment l8 through the inlet grill -32 and leaves the compartment l8through the outlet 34. :A' fan unit 3| is provided for circulating the air to be conditioned in thermal exchange with the evaporator 22. A fan unit 36 is provided for circulating condenser cooling air in thermal exchange with the condenser 24. The condenser cooling air enters the condenser chamber through the opening 38 provided in the bottom of the casing l0 and leaves through the outlet opening 40 provided in the top wall of the casing l0. Inasmuch as it is desirable to withdraw a certain amount of vitiated air from the conditioned space from time to time, I have provided an opening 42 in the wall 16 whereby a certain amount of room air may be allowed to be discharged into the condenser cooling air stream. While I have not shown a damper in the opening 42, it is obvious that a damper may be provided for controlling the amount of air flowing through the opening 42.

As shown in Fig. 1, reference numeral 46 designates the usual form of ash dump which affords a very convenient passage for the condenser cooling air. The condenser cooling air is withdrawn from the basement through the opening 44, which is provided for removing the fireplace ashes. The heated air leaving the condenser cooling compartment 20 through the outlet 40 discharges to the outside atmosphere through the fireplace flue 48. In order to prevent any of the condenser cooling air from entering the conditioned space, I have provided a baflle 50 which is adapted to be secured to the front wall of the cabinet H] in any convenient manner such as by means of bolts 52. Inasmuch as there may be considerable variation in the size of the fireplace openings, the bafile 50 is made large enough to fit the largest opening and is adapted to be cut to fit smaller openings. A gasket 53 is provided adjacent the periphery of the baffle 50 so as to provide an air tight seal. While I have not disclosed any special duct leading from the outlet 46 to the lower end of the fine 18, it is obvious that such a duct may be provided if desired. Normally such a duct is not required except in certain fireplaces where the construction and the proportions of the fireplace are not suitable for proper air flow from the outlet 40 to the flue 48. During the operation of the air conditioning unit, the ash dump door 54, the flue damper 55 and the clean-out door 56 would be held wide open so as to permit the free flow of air therethrough.

For purposes of illustration I have shown a condensate collecting pan 5! which is provided with an outlet pipe 58 which may lead to any suitable drain such as the basement sewer, It is within the purview of this invention, however, to discharge the condensate water into the condenser air stream by means of any one of several well known condensate disposal means.

By virtue of the above described air conditioning arrangement, a very neat and practical air conditioning unit is provided which is adapted to be installed in any conventional fireplace without cutting any holes in'the walls and without providing any special ducts for conveying air to and from the condensing chamber. Inasmuch as; the fireplace of a home is usually placed so as to properly distribute the heated air within the room, it is apparent that the location of the fireplace is an ideal location for an air conditioning unit.

For those fireplaces which are not provided with an ash dump such as 46, a separate opening either from the basement or directly from the outside, may be provided for introducing condenser cooling air into the fireplace.

For purposes of illustration, the panel 50 has been shown fitted within the main fireplace opening whereas it could rest against the front surface of the fireplace. As shown in Fig. 1, a screen 68 may be provided in front of the panel 50 so as to partially conceal the air conditioning unit.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination with a fireplace having an ash dump passage communicating with the basement and a flue leading to the outside atmosphere, an evaporator, means for circulating air to be conditioned in thermal exchange with said evaporator, refrigerant liquefying apparatus for supplying liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, means for circulating air from said basement through said ash dump passage into thermal exchange with said refrigerant liquefying apparatus and thereafter out through said flue. V

2. In combination with a fireplace having an opening leading to a space to be conditioned and a flue leading to the outside atmosphere, an evaporator disposed adjacentsaid opening, means for circulating air to be conditioned inthermal exchange with said evaporator, refrigerant liquefying apparatus within said fireplace for supplying liquid refrigerant tosaid evaporator, means for flowing air into thermal exchange with said refrigerant liquefying apparatus and thereafter out through said flue.

ROBERT W. HOMMEL. 

